Ryan and Jake got to sit down with Opeth at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. They talked about not using a click track, getting the studio sound on stage, being perfectionists in their music, the legend PRS, tips and tricks, and Jake even got their take on the Swedish delicacy Surstrumming!
The Click Shall Not CLACK!
Mikael Åkerfeldt says Opeth doesn’t use a click track… They never used a click track, and they don’t want one. When it comes to pro-level concerts, you don't normally see a band perform without one.
One of Mikael's interests in not having a click track is that it helps him determine whether or not it was a good show. But they don’t use much of anything for a backing track. “It would be so convenient and much easier!”
Normally that click keeps everyone in time with each other (and usually to keep time with the studio version), but not for Opeth. “The only pre-recorded material that we have from the new album are the narrations. That's the only ‘fake stuff’ we have. So tempos may vary but most of the time it's right. If I was a fake guy, everything would be on tape and I would just mime it out no problem. I really like that we are a live band. You can tell if you are good one night and the next show not so good and the dynamics of that.”
Creating the Studio Sound!
So many bands try to replicate the studio experience live, and it's a hefty job. Ryan states that Opeth is still able to capture so many dynamics and shifts without any additional tracks. “It shows how much rehearsal goes into it you guys seem to be on a dime.”
Mikael responds “ We don't practice much, but if the drummer has it down, we are 50% of the way there.” The key is to have a fantastic drummer like Waltteri Väyrynen. Sometimes issues come up. Mikael said, “Some of the new songs took a few rehearsals, and one of the new songs we are still trying to get down; we don't know if we will ever do it live.”
But regardless this is no easy feat. Trying to replicate somewhere around 150 tracks between five guys will leave you with something missing! Right? Well Mikael and Fredrik said, “We have to sorta pick and choose what is the most vital section with what we need… There might be a guitar line we give it to the keys and vice versa trying to cover where we can.”
Perfectionists
When it comes to performing live, struggles are bound to arise. “Where we struggle the most is the fragile songs because there is nothing to hide behind. The energy shift can be tricky.” It’s almost as if the GPS tells you to make a turn later than expected. It seems to not always be a smooth experience. When you are going from hammering on the guitar for one song it's difficult to play a song like a soft whisper in the next. “It could be the most simple song. Sometimes the easier it is, the harder it is to play. The simple parts have less ingredients so they mean more in the moment like if you mess up in a chaotic song barely anyone knows it. It’s a lot of mind games.”
Mikael says “When other guys make a mistake, it's funny but when I make a mistake it's not funny at all. I start thinking, ‘What's wrong with me?’” Ryan swoops in to remind Mikael that nobody hears the mistakes and to enjoy the moment. Mikael says “I don’t remember many shows, which is good. I rarely walk off stage thinking as a collective we nailed it; I just think that was alright. I am just chasing the recorded song because I spent so much time with it.”
Paul Reed Smith x Opeth
Mikael loves PRS guitars due to how consistent they are, especially for live shows. “In the studio we pick whatever is needed. But we like the guitar tone. We have a pretty extreme metal background, and we were tired of the fat death metal guitar sound. We gravitated toward single coil pick ups because it sounds more like a human playing: more fragile and puts more pressure on a musician.”
Opeth really does shred on guitar… no literally “The PRS guitars are incredible. There are so many guitars I look at from on tour and go ‘What happened to this!?’” They say that even after all the wear and tear the PRSs still sound great!
Soon after joining Opeth, Fredrik Åkesson started playing PRS guitars. Mikael Åkerfeldt introduced Fredrik to them. He always admired them and says it's an honor to be a part of the family. “PRS have been so kind to us, and they are the longest-running endorsement we have, actually. I bought my first in 2000, bought another two years later, and then after that we connected — either they reached out or I did — and I got an artist discount on the third.” Mikael explains how he got a tour of the Paul Reed Smith factory, and on that tour he pointed to a guitar and asked what it was. Paul said, “Here you can have it!”
Opeth Tips and Tricks and there Mixed Genre
Of course at AMS we love knowing all the tips and tricks artists take with them to each session. Mikael says, “I am a trial-and-error kind of guy. I am doing the most back at home, but if someone was going to see how I patch things they would ask what are you doing. And the tip is there are no rules. I wouldn't say I am a ‘less is more’ guy. More is more! But that makes it harder to mix.”
“Every album I learn something new,” said Fredrik Åkesson.
Ryan was curious about Opeth's idea of progression for metal. Mikael said, “We may belong to the genre, but there is a difference between the band making progressive music and the genre. It doesn’t have to have lead guitar solos. With my taste, progressive music of today has become very technical instead of mixing musical styles.” Opeth believes they have no limitations; it's never too far off because they almost don't subscribe to a genre.
Wrapping Up with Opeth
We had a great time talking to Opeth about their music, touring, and, of course, gear. A huge thanks to Mikael Åkerfeldt and Fredrik Åkesson for taking time out of their busy schedules to humor our questions. We learned a lot!
While Opeth might not subscribe to a genre, YOU Should subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content just like this. We have more interviews with touring artists, videos on some of the latest gear, and so much more. Oh, and don’t forget to check out all the amazing PRS guitars while you’re here!
